|
1776
|
Peter Wright, the progenitor of his family, was of an
ancient Scotch Highland clan. He resided at Dellanny, Argyleshire,
Scotland. He married Agnes Ferguson and among their children
was Duncan, born in 1776, mentioned below.
(II) Duncan Wright, son of Peter
Wright (I), was born in [Dellanny | Delleny | Delanny | Delmarkly], Argyleshire, in [1776
| 1770]... He was educated in his native town and learned the
trade of chemical bleaching there. He lived in [Arklestone | Arkelstine], near Paisley,
Scotland.
|
|
February
25, 1777
|
Janet Wilson
was born February 25, 1777, at Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. She was a daughter of Alexander (2) Wilson, of Paisley, Scotland, and a sister of Alexander Wilson, the famed American
ornithologist.
|
|
September
17, 1796
|
Duncan
Wright married, in Scotland, Janet Wilson September 17, 1796, at Paisley, Renfrewshire. They had three sons,
Peter, Alexander, and John.
|
|
March 30, 1798
|
Peter
Wright was born March 30, 1798, and christened April
1, 1798, in Abbey Parish, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Peter married Maribah Chace May 30, 1826, at Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts. At least some of Peter and Maribah Wright’s children were: Margaret M., born about 1830 in Massachusetts; Lucy Reed, born October 26, 1845; Jeannette Wilson, born about 1847; Ellen M., born about 1850.
Peter
was employed in the Lowell Carpet Company factory until 1857, and then
removed to Westminster, Worcester
County, Mass., where he was still residing in 1882 at the age of
eighty-four years.
|
|
|
From 1880 Federal census of
Westminster, Worcester, Massachusetts:
|
|
|
Jeannette
Wilson Wright, daughter of Peter and Maribah (Chace) Wright, married Henry Winslow
Brooks June 11, 1868. Henry was born May 17, 1845, at Ashby, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. They settled in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, where Jeannette died December 20, 1877, apparently as a result of childbirth. Their children were: Maude Wright Brooks, born April 10, 1869, and died February 1896; Robert Montgomery Brooks, November 6, 1872, and died January 27,
1897; Henry
Winslow Brooks, Jr., born December 20, 1877. All were born in Chicago. The children were living with their
Wright grandparents in Massachusetts at the time of the 1880 Federal
census.
|
|
May 3, 1800
|
Alexander Wright, son of
Duncan and Janet (Wilson) Wright, was born at [Arklestone | Arkelstine], near Paisley, Scotland, May 3, 1800,
and christened May 4,
1800, in Abbey Parish, Paisley, Renfrewshire,
Scotland.
(The life
of Alexander Wright is discussed in a separate timeline.)
|
|
March 7, 1802
|
John
Wright, son of Duncan and Janet (Wilson) Wright, was born March 7, 1802, and christened March
14, 1802, in Abbey Parish, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He married Janet Wilson December 25, 1831, at Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The following was said of their son
John Gordon Wright.
|
|
|
John G. Wright, merchant and
philanthropist…was born in Lowell,
Mass., July 29, 1842, the son of John and Janet (Wilson)
Wright. For over one hundred years Mr. Wright’s ancestors were prominent in New
England affairs, his grandfather, Duncan Wright, together with
his elder brother, Daniel, having introduced
chemical bleaching in this country early in
the nineteenth century. John Gordon Wright entered the employ of the Bigelow
Carpet Co. at the age of twelve and remained with that company for three
years. He then attended the Lancaster Academy, and upon finishing his studies
was in the employ of Patterson, Eager & Co., Boston,
for one year, resigning his position to become
paymaster of the Clinton Carpet Co. Receiving an advantageous offer from the
Lowell Machine Shops, of Lowell, he spent four years with that concern in
making up machinery costs, and then entered the wool business
in New York City as the associate of Samuel Lawrence. He came to Boston
in 1866 as a member of the firm of Lawrence,
Wright & Co.
|
|
|
He soon became
known as the largest individual importer of wool and was about
the first merchant in the trade to specialize in and import the Australian
fleece. He was also a large and early importer of South American wool. During
his entire business career Mr. Wright was
known and respected for his many philanthropies and his consideration for his
less fortunate fellow man. He was a member
of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, of which
he was a director, and the Exchange, Commercial and Boston Art Clubs.
He was a trustee of the Episcopal Theological School of Cambridge,
to which he gave a new library building,
and a member of the Board of Directors of
the Home Savings Bank. Mr. Wright had been
ill for some time previous to his death and, realizing his approaching end,
carefully arranged for the continuance of the business,
naming his nephew, John G. Wright, 2nd, and Howard Atwood, who had
been associated with him for many years, as
his successors.
|
|
|
John G. Wright, merchant and
philanthropist…died at his home in Brookline,
January 31, 1912. In
pursuance of Mr. Wright’s final instructions, the business
was incorporated November 1, 1912, Mr.
Atwood, who has a most comprehensive knowledge of every phase of the trade, becoming
president and treasurer of the company, which is known as John G. Wright
& Co., Inc., and John G. Wright, 2nd, who had just completed a
collegiate course, its vice-president. The old offices of Mr. Wright, at 620
Atlantic Avenue, were retained and the business
is conducted along precisely the same lines that brought
the founder success.
|
|
October
20, 1811
|
On October 20, 1811, Alexander Wilson, Jr. wrote from Philadelphia a letter to his brother-in-law Duncan Wright, the husband of Wilson's half sister Janet. Wilson commiserated with Duncan on the political oppression and
deplorable economic conditions then afflicting Scotland and told of the almost limitless
opportunities to be
had in American. He was careful to assure Duncan that he was not trying to
“convince” Duncan to make the journey; just that he wanted Duncan to know of
potential opportunity where little seemed to be available in Scotland. Wilson mistakenly states: "There is little chance of following
the employment of bleaching
here; but there is an infinite number of employments besides to which your own judgement
& activity may direct you." [From "The Life and Letters
of Alexander Wilson," p. 390.]
|
|
1812
|
Duncan Wright learned
the trade of textile chemical bleaching, and
learning of the need of skilled bleachers
in Philadelphia, then, as now, a manufacturing city, he left Scotland in 1812 to seek his fortune in America. Without his family he sailed for the United States with the intention of making his home in Philadelphia. But the United States and Great Britain were involved in war and the ship on which he was a
passenger was captured by an American privateer, the “Yankee,” Captain James
DeWolfe, commanding, and he was taken to Bristol, Bristol
County, Rhode Island. In conversation with his prisoner Captain DeWolfe
learned of his occupation and of his intended destination. He at once advised
Duncan of the Arkwright Mill cotton factory at Dighton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, in which DeWolfe was part owner, and sent him there
with a letter to the manager, who at once engaged the Scotch bleacher
as superintendent of the bleaching at the Arkwright Mill bleachery.
It is claimed that Duncan Wright was the first chemical bleacher
of cotton cloth in America.
|
|
|
The
result of the capture of Duncan Wright by the
“Yankee,” which diverted him from Philadelphia, gave to New
England two men, Duncan Wright,
the father, and Alexander Wright, the son, whose mechanical genius and ability
appreciably affected the fortunes of the localities in which they
settled. Both continued active in manufacturing until death ended all and
they rested from their labors.
|
|
September, 1815
|
After
the war was over, and after becoming
settled in his new home and position, he sent for his family. In September, 1815,
his wife and three sons sailed on the ship, “General Knox,” arriving in Boston in due season and joining the husband and
father in Dighton. One of the sons, Alexander Wright, became one
of the pioneers in establishing textile mills at the falls of the Merrimack, now Lowell, Massachusetts, one of the great workshops of the world.
On
the arrival of his family in Boston Mr. Wright took passage to Smithfield, Providence
County, Rhode Island, where he was employed as a chemical bleacher
in the local cotton mill, and where he
remained two years.
|
|
1817
|
From
there he went to Waltham, Middlesex
County, Massachusetts, and established
a bleachery of his own on the Charles River near the Waltham cotton factory.
|
|
1820
|
After
he had been there about
three years, the Boston Manufacturing Company bought
the site upon which his works were located.
In 1820 he established another bleachery
at Medway, Norfolk
County, Massachusetts, living in the Amos Fisher house upon Paul’s Hill. He
resided here with his family five years.
|
|
1825
|
He
afterwards had a bleachery in Milk Row, Boston, Suffolk County. He then went to Fall River, Bristol
County, Massachusetts, and with his brother
Daniel and two others did the first calico printing in that city.
|
|
January 26, 1836
|
He
retired to a farm in Tewksbury, Middlesex
County, Massachusetts, near Lowell, and died January 26, 1836.
|
|
|
|
|
1800
|
In
a published pamphlet by
the “Old Residents Historical Association” of Lowell,
Mass.,
“In
1800 a Frenchman named Jacquard invented a machine attached to looms at first
for weaving silks and muslins and was found of great value in the fabrication
of figured goods. Soon after a Mr. Morton, a Scotchman, applied it to a
carpet loom and found it a great success. In the course of a few years small
mills were started for the manufacture of carpets in the United States.”
|
|
May 3, 1800
|
Alexander Wright, son of
Duncan and Janet (Wilson) Wright, was born at [Arklestone | Arkelstine], near Paisley, Scotland, May 3, 1800,
and christened May 4,
1800, in Abbey Parish, Paisley, Renfrewshire,
Scotland.
|
|
July 16, 1807
|
Sabra Wiswall Claflin (Alexander’s future wife)…was born in Holliston,
Massachusetts, July 16, 1807, daughter of William and Anna (Underwood) Claflin.
|
|
1815
|
Alexander
Wright left his native land in 1815 and became one
of the pioneers in establishing textile mills at the falls of the Merrimack, now Lowell, Massachusetts, one of the great workshops of the world. Alexander Wright
was the grandson of Peter and Agnes (Ferguson) Wright, and son of Duncan and Janet (Wilson) Wright.
|
|
1820
|
He
worked with his father in Waltham and in Medway at bleaching
until 1820, when he began an independent
career. Alexander had learned the business
of manufacturing textiles, and for six years, 1820-26,
he engaged in manufacturing coach lace at Medway, Norfolk County,
Massachusetts, until he began
with Burdett the manufacture of carpets in West Medway,
on Winthrop
Street near
the Cutler place, on Chicken Brook.
|
|
1825
|
In
1825 Alexander…became interested in the subject
of carpet weaving with the intention of establishing
a carpet mill in New England. Thus he journeyed to Philadelphia to visit a carpet factory recently started in that
city of “Brotherly Love.” He was refused the privilege of witnessing the
operation of carpet weaving as carried on in the mill, and disappointed and
somewhat chagrined he returned to Medway and soon after sailed for Scotland
with the intention of gaining the knowledge he needed in the home of his birth.
|
|
1826
|
He
purchased three carpet looms in Scotland, and accompanied by
his relatives, Claude and William Wilson, skilled operatives of the carpet
loom, he sailed for America in the ship “The Rival.”
|
|
|
They met with a series of storms and were virtually shipwrecked off the coast of Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, though the badly damaged vessel succeeded in
reaching port. The preceding account of the mishap is constructed from
various sources, including the following:
Mr.
Baron and family were shipwrecked on the vessel in which they came to America, off Scituate,
Massachusetts. In the same ship was Alexander Wright of Lowell, who had been
to England to get men and machinery to start his carpet mill.
-and-
The
ship in which they came met with a series of storms and reached port badly
damaged.
|
|
|
Soon
the three looms were set up in Medway, and successfully operated as a
mechanical venture, but as a business venture were not considered profitable. He
disposed of his little plant to a Mr. Burdett, who in turn sold to Frederick
Cabot and Patrick T. Jackson.
This was the first carpet factory in Massachusetts and the second in America, the first being
in Philadelphia.
|
|
February
22, 1828
|
Frederick
Cabot and Patrick T. Jackson secured a charter for the Lowell
Manufacturing Company from the Massachusetts Legislature, and on February
22, 1828, at the home of Mr.
Jackson on Winter street, Boston, the
organization of the company was perfected and arrangements for erecting mill buildings
at Lowell were soon made. Mr. Wright remained in charge of the works
at Medway until the Lowell plant was ready to begin
operations, and then moved to Lowell, being superintendent of the Lowell Manufacturing Company.
Under his superintendency the first carpet was manufactured in Lowell…
|
|
March, 1828
|
In
March the company began to build in Lowell. Mr. Wright remained in charge of the plant at Medway,
until the buildings at Lowell were completed when he removed to Lowell and became superintendent of the Lowell Manufacturing
Company. Under his direction the first carpet was woven in Lowell. His mechanical skill and business
foresight had much to do with the upbuilding
and growth of the corporation with which he was identified.
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|
|
|
|
October
13, 1828
|
On
removing from Medway to Lowell, he married Sabra
Wiswall Claflin October 13, 1828,
daughter of William and Anna (Underwood) Claflin of Holliston, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Wright
were the parents of six daughters and three sons as follows.
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|
|
1. Sabra, born March 7, 1830, who resided with sisters in the old homestead on Pawtucket Street, Lowell.
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|
|
2. Catherine Janet,
born October 28, 1831, became the wife of James R. Darracott April 22, 1851, and later resided with sisters in the old homestead on Pawtucket Street, Lowell, where she died in 1906.
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|
|
3. Lois
Ripley, born December 4, 1833,
became the wife of the Rev. Frederick Frothingham September 4, 1872. He was
a Unitarian minister from Ile De Montreal, Quebec, whom
she survived, a resident of West
Roxbury, Massachusetts.
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|
|
4.
Emeline, born October 13, 1836, died November
29, 1837
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|
|
5. Mary Montgomery,
born June 19, 1838, became the wife of David
Henry Bradt. David was born in Lowell,
Massachusetts, February 18, 1841, and was a son of David
and Sarah F. (Merrill) Bradt. He received his education in that place and
learned the trade of baker. David
and Mary had no children. Later, Mary resided with
sisters in the old homestead on Pawtucket Street, Lowell.
|
|
|
6. Helen
Waugh, born August 20,
1840, resided with sisters in the
old homestead on Pawtucket
Street, Lowell.
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|
|
7. Duncan, born February 16, 1843, died March 7, 1843.
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|
|
8.
Alexander, Jr., born
July 22, 1846,
an orange grower of Southern
California; married Katherine Margaret
Bremerman July 3, 1889;
their children were: Alexander G.,
Donald, and Henry B.
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|
|
9. William Spenser, born February 12, 1850, who became an orange grower of Southern California, and died there August 22, 1880; he
married Anna L. Bremerman January
6, 1870; their children were: Lois F., deceased, and Anna B., who married
George F. Granshaw and resided in Glencoe, Illinois.
|
|
|
From 1880 Federal census of Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts:
|
Name
|
Relation
|
Marital Status
|
Gender
|
Race
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
Occupation
|
Father's Birthplace
|
Mother's Birthplace
|
|
Sabra
WRIGHT
|
Self
|
W
|
Female
|
W
|
74
|
MA
|
Keeping
House
|
MA
|
MA
|
|
Sabra
WRIGHT
|
Dau
|
S
|
Female
|
W
|
50
|
MA
|
At
Home
|
MA
|
MA
|
|
Catherine
J. DARRICOTT
|
Dau
|
W
|
Female
|
W
|
48
|
MA
|
Teacher
Of Dancing
|
MA
|
MA
|
|
Helen
W. WRIGHT
|
Dau
|
S
|
Female
|
W
|
40
|
MA
|
Teacher
Of Dancing
|
MA
|
MA
|
|
Rosa
FARLEY
|
Other
|
S
|
Female
|
W
|
28
|
IRE
|
Servant
|
IRE
|
IRE
|
|
|
|
From 1880 Federal census of Milton, Norfolk, Massachusetts:
|
Name
|
Relation
|
Marital Status
|
Gender
|
Race
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
Occupation
|
Father's Birthplace
|
Mother's Birthplace
|
|
Fredrick
FROTHINGHAM
|
Self
|
M
|
Male
|
W
|
56
|
CAN
|
Unitarian
Minister
|
ME
|
MA
|
|
Louis
R. FROTHINGHAM
|
Wife
|
M
|
Female
|
W
|
52
|
MA
|
Keeps
House
|
SCOT
|
MA
|
|
Maggie
PEYDEN
|
Other
|
S
|
Female
|
W
|
23
|
IRE
|
Servant
|
IRE
|
IRE
|
|
|
|
From 1880 Federal census of Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts:
|
Name
|
Relation
|
Marital Status
|
Gender
|
Race
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
Occupation
|
Father's Birthplace
|
Mother's Birthplace
|
|
Henery
D. BRADT
|
Self
|
M
|
Male
|
W
|
38
|
MA
|
Baker
|
---
|
---
|
|
Mary
BRADT
|
Wife
|
M
|
Female
|
W
|
36
|
MA
|
Keeps
House
|
---
|
---
|
|
Sarah
CAMERON
|
Other
|
S
|
Female
|
W
|
30
|
NOVA
SCOTIA
|
Servant
|
SCOT
|
SCOT
|
|
|
|
From 1880 Federal census of Anaheim, Los Angeles, California:
NOTE:
Anaheim is now part of Orange County, California.
|
Name
|
Relation
|
Marital Status
|
Gender
|
Race
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
Occupation
|
Father's Birthplace
|
Mother's Birthplace
|
|
Alexander
WRIGHT
|
Self
|
S
|
Male
|
W
|
34
|
MA
|
Stock
Raiser
|
MA
|
SCO
|
|
|
|
From 1880 Federal census of Anaheim, Los Angeles, California:
|
Name
|
Relation
|
Marital Status
|
Gender
|
Race
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
Occupation
|
Father's Birthplace
|
Mother's Birthplace
|
|
William
S. WRIGHT
|
Self
|
M
|
Male
|
W
|
30
|
MA
|
Stock
Raiser
|
SCO
|
MA
|
|
Anna
L. WRIGHT
|
Wife
|
M
|
Female
|
W
|
25
|
CA
|
Keeping
House
|
BREMEN
|
OLDENBERG
|
|
Lois
M. WRIGHT
|
Dau
|
S
|
Female
|
W
|
2
|
CA
|
|
MA
|
CA
|
|
Anna
WRIGHT
|
Dau
|
S
|
Female
|
W
|
5M
|
CA
|
|
MA
|
CA
|
|
|
1836-38
|
Alexander Wright took an
interest in politics as a Whig. In the
adoption of Lowell’s city charter he was elected a member
of the first board of aldermen, representing his district in the
general court in 1836, and represented Lowell in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1838. Though often urged, he positively declined to accept
the office of mayor of the city. He was a warm
friend of the cause of education, and gave hearty support to all movements
for improving education or industrial conditions. In religion he supported
the Unitarian faith, his daughters in Lowell all being members of that church.
|
|
1839
|
Through
a suggestion made by Mr. Wright in 1839 the inventor, E.
B. Bigelow, perfected a power loom for carpet manufacture. It was
introduced by the Lowell Manufacturing Company in 1843 and
revolutionized the methods of making carpets.
|
|
June 7, 1852
|
The
Hon. Alexander Wright died in Lowell on June 7, 1852,
suddenly, and was interred at Mount
Auburn.
|
|
October
10, 1881
|
Sabra Wiswall (Claflin) Wright…died at Lowell, October 10, 1881.
|